Seth Rollins Outshines the Pack Ahead of WrestleMania 41, Says Paul Heyman

Seth Rollins is stepping into the main event of WrestleMania 41 Night 1 with a chip on his shoulder and a point to prove. Set to face off against both CM Punk and Roman Reigns, Rollins has called this clash a fight for the "soul" of WWE—a pretty lofty way to describe a wrestling match, but honestly, after the year he’s had, it tracks.

Rollins isn’t a stranger to high-stakes drama. His long-standing rivalries with both Punk and Reigns are well documented, and if you blinked, you might’ve missed his main event appearance at last year’s WrestleMania 40. There, he and Cody Rhodes were bested by Reigns and The Rock, with Rollins later blocked from getting even a last-second hit on The Rock thanks to Reigns’ interference. The man just can’t catch a break sometimes.

Over the past 18 months, Rollins has put in the kind of performances that tend to get lost in the noise of wrestling’s headline-makers. He tried to pull Rhodes into a heavyweight title bout at WrestleMania 40, only to be turned down. Instead, he faced defeat at the hands of Drew McIntyre, took a breather, and then came back swinging—quite literally—against Punk. But even then, a Royal Rumble fumble and another run-in with Reigns in a steel cage match kept him from redemption.

Despite all the on-screen feuding, WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman recently offered Rollins some rare praise, calling him the "MVP" and admitting that Rollins has "eclipsed us all" with his relentless drive and impressive agility. Heyman, more known for his villainous bravado, actually sounded almost sentimental about it, saying he’s been caught off guard by how Rollins has risen above the fray, outshining even the biggest personalities in the business.

Heyman pointed out how easy it would’ve been for Rollins to be sidelined in this drama—just the other guy in Punk and Reigns' orbit. Instead, Rollins has forced his way into the spotlight, battling both rivals and, in the process, becoming the wrestler everyone’s talking about for all the right reasons. And let’s be real, in the world of WWE, that’s as rare as a quiet night on Twitter.

Heyman also touched on the social media circus, brushing off critics who haven’t given Rollins his due. After all, if people can find haters for Abraham Lincoln, you can bet there’ll be folks online nitpicking a guy who jumps off ropes for a living.

On the final "Monday Night Raw" before WrestleMania 41, Rollins made a statement in the ring, delivering stomps to both Punk and Reigns. Punk even ate a spear from Reigns for good measure—so much for friends in high places.

As for Heyman himself, he’s already tasted the floor thanks to the Bloodline last year, and he’s not ruling out another run-in with a finishing move this time around. His only hope? Maybe, just maybe, he’ll dodge the inevitable chaos that seems to follow these main events—though, with this crowd, I wouldn’t bet on it.